Newport's Big Splash festival returns (From South Wales Argus)

Newport's Big Splash festival returns

3:30pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News

FAMILY event the Big Splash will be returning to Newport city centre this summer with live music, circus, street theatre, dance and comedy acts.

The entertainment for all ages follows on from the success of the last three years and will see Newport being taken over by a host of indoor and outdoor events along the banks of the River Usk and at The Riverfront, Newport Centre and Rodney Parade.

Michelle Perez, marketing manager for The Big Splash Team, said: “There will be plenty of free events as well as a teenage area, the urban edge zone.

“But the sunset spectacular will definitely be the weekends highlight.”

The family friendly entertainment from Friday, May 31, until Sunday, June 2, has four fun zones.

They include Parklife, at Rodney Parade, where there will be sports and games, bouncy castles, street theatre and appearances by some of children’s favourite characters.

Urban Edge, based in and around the Newport Centre, will be a zone focused on urban arts and activities for teenagers.

Fun of the Fair will be an exciting selection of funfair rides.

And the fourth zone, Ultimate Usk, is where the sunset spectacular event will take place.

That is scheduled for 9.45pm on June 1, where Riverfront, Citrus Arts and Alchemy Fireworks will combine forces to treat the public with a stunning acrobatic and pyrotechnic display including a Wheel of Death at the Red Wave Sculpture.

The Wheel of Death is frequently used in Cirque Du Soleil performances where acrobats perform inside a moving steel structure.

An appearance by the Carnival Crew from the South Wales Intercultural Carnival Arts will herald the free, dramatic firework finale.

The only act confirmed at present is the local band ‘2 Rude’ who will be performing on the Friday night.

Throughout the weekend there will be international street performers in one of the best street theatre festivals in Wales.

And there will be a selection of drop-in workshops and theatre shows in The Riverfront.

For the latest updates on the events, sign up to facebook.com/bigsplashnewport or follow @newportfestival #bigsplash2013 on Twitter.

A more detailed timetable will also be uploaded to the website newport.gov.uk/bigsplash